Which Bass Amp & Cab or Combo?

[Thurbs]

I guys. I am taking the rather bold step of getting a 3/4 piece band together to play in my local pubs and clubs. The set list will be high tempo music punters can dance and sing along to so songs like The Killers - Mr Brightside, The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger & The Wombats - Moving to New York.

Trouble is my weedy practice amp needs a serious upgrade! I am going shopping shortly with about £500 to £750 of hard earned but given I am pretty new to this game, I am not sure what to get. I am sure most of you will tell me to "play them and pick the best one" but I am not sure my ear is quite tuned enough to tell a good set-up and a rubbish one.

As it's pub and club gigs I am guessing 400w would be OK. Would 300 cut it do you think?

Cabs I have singled out are:

http://www.dv247.com/guitars/ampeg-svt15e-bass-gui...
http://www.dv247.com/guitars/trace-elliot-1028h-ba...
http://www.dv247.com/guitars/markbass-traveler-102...
http://www.dv247.com/guitars/gallien-krueger-410bl...

Any others I should give a try?

As for heads, I have even less a clue about these. Other than simply opting for the same brand's head unit, making sure it is man enough for the job, is there anything else I should look out for?

Yours, slightly clueless...

[GetCarter]

Combo...

Trace Elliott are built like brick st houses and last forever (I did over 300 gigs in one year with mine) - they have them starting at about £550 upwards.

http://www.bonnersmusic.co.uk/buy/Trace_Elliot/715...

ETA This is what I used to use http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Trace-Elliot-GP11-Mk-V-Bass-...

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 15th March 10:43

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 15th March 13:14

[chevy-stu]

Id personally get aseperate head and cab. You'll get the best versatility and easier to load than one big lump of a combo...
If you're happy dragging a 4x10 cab around I personally find them the best sound and compromise..

If your looking to buy new then just try a few combinations that fall in your budget and pick what you like. The amp power isn't neccesarily the most important thing, as different amps and cabs have work at differing efficiency but 250-500 watts is a good aim..

In your price range I'd try Peavey Tour Range, Ashdown Mag range, Gallien Kruger, Warwick Pro-Fet, Hartke HA range.
Not sure if your budget will go to MarkBass, but it's great lightweight gig happy stuff.

(note: Trace Elliot have been owned and built by Peavey for a few years now)

[Jag-D]

chevy-stu said:

Id personally get aseperate head and cab. You'll get the best versatility and easier to load than one big lump of a combo...
If you're happy dragging a 4x10 cab around I personally find them the best sound and compromise..

If your looking to buy new then just try a few combinations that fall in your budget and pick what you like. The amp power isn't neccesarily the most important thing, as different amps and cabs have work at differing efficiency but 250-500 watts is a good aim..

In your price range I'd try Peavey Tour Range, Ashdown Mag range, Gallien Kruger, Warwick Pro-Fet, Hartke HA range.
Not sure if your budget will go to MarkBass, but it's great lightweight gig happy stuff.

(note: Trace Elliot have been owned and built by Peavey for a few years now)

I agree with the above comments

I had a Peavey 4x10 Cab and 78 mk3 head and it was immense. Sound was brilliant, volume excellent, the weight wasn't too bad, it was just a bulky bd!!!!!

Good enough to be borrowed by a couple of mates bands and used up and down the country at one point.

Wish I never sold it, but hey ho

[Thurbs]

Thanks very much for the advice guys, I think I am going to get this:

http://www.giggear.co.uk/p/Ashdown-MAG-300H-EVOII-...

Just got to shop around now and see if I can get a better price...

[DinkyToy-boy]

At the risk of coming across as some sort of gear seller on here,(which I'm not trying to be!), I have a fairly similar set up for sale at the moment! Second hand obviously. About 5 years old in nice condition, it's the Mag300 head and 2 seperate matching cabs, but they're both 1x15's. 'Carpet' covered, rather than the new vinyl affair.

I'm based in the North Manchester area. PM me if interested

[Thurbs]

YHM

[tangent police]

Thurbs said:

Thanks very much for the advice guys, I think I am going to get this:

http://www.giggear.co.uk/p/Ashdown-MAG-300H-EVOII-...

Just got to shop around now and see if I can get a better price...

GAK in Brighton and Sounds Live in Newcastle are worth a tap up.

[Thurbs]

Thanks everyone... late last night I made a purchase!

From a member of basschat.co.uk I got:

Ashdown MAG 300 EVO Head
Ashdown MAG 4x10 Cab
Zoom B2
Behringer Virtualiser Pro Effects
Behringer Ultra-Q Pro EQ
Presonus EQ 3B
...and...
Squier Jazz Bass Vintage Modified

The Head, Cab and Squier are mint and look brand new (the guy said he had them 4 months) and the other stuff is in good nick also.

All for £600 notes.

Here it is complete with my other Yamaha RBX170 and Behringer 8" practice amp.



It sounds awsome and I am very pleased all in all.

[GetCarter]

Good work that man.

[Eggle]

Is that a MAG cab? I thought they were carpeted and the better ABM range were in the buffalo?

[Thurbs]

Eggle said:

Is that a MAG cab? I thought they were carpeted and the better ABM range were in the buffalo?

The new ones in the Mag range are vinyl. I was going to buy a mag set 5 or so years old and they were carpeted.

[chevy-stu]

Excellent work


(just sell the unneccesary Behringer rack gear and Zoom pedal .... )

[tangent police]

Nice

Now you need an envelope filter pedal